Support and resistance levels are key concepts in technical analysis, which is a method of forecasting the direction of prices through the study of past market data, including price and volume. These levels are considered to be key points at which the price of a security is likely to either find support and be unable to fall further, or encounter resistance and be unable to rise further.
Support and resistance levels are often based on historical data and the past behavior of market participants. For example, if a stock has consistently found support at a certain price level in the past, technical analysts would consider that level to be a key support level. Similarly, if a stock has consistently encountered resistance at a certain price level, that level would be considered a key resistance level.
Support and resistance levels can be identified by looking at a stock's price chart, which plots the price of the stock over time. When the price of a stock is trending upwards, the support levels are typically found below the current price, and the resistance levels are found above the current price. Conversely, when the price of a stock is trending downwards, the support levels are typically found above the current price, and the resistance levels are found below the current price.
Traders and investors often use support and resistance levels to make buy and sell decisions. For example, if a stock is approaching a key support level, an investor might consider buying the stock in anticipation that it will find support at that level and be unable to fall further. Similarly, if a stock is approaching a key resistance level, an investor might consider selling the stock in anticipation that it will encounter resistance at that level and be unable to rise further.
Because the stock market operates on a schedule, with trading taking place during specific hours of the day, it is natural for support and resistance levels to also be centered around certain times of the day. For example, if a stock has consistently found support at a certain price level during the early morning hours, that level would be considered a key support level during that time of day.
In conclusion, support and resistance levels are key levels at which the price of a security is likely to either find support and be unable to fall further, or encounter resistance and be unable to rise further. These levels are often based on historical data and the past behavior of market participants, and are commonly used by traders and investors to make buy and sell decisions. Because the stock market operates on a schedule, support and resistance levels are often centered around certain times of the day.